Focus on Mets Series Win, Not Clutchness

I know the blogosphere will be a buzz today about the Mets lack of clutch in late innings. Everyone will want to focus on David Wright's inability to get the big hit against a left-handed pitcher in the 7th inning with one out and the bases loaded. And ultimately the Mets were not able to recover after that.

Even though the Mets lost yesterday, it's yet another series win against a team with a winning record. Series wins are the answer to a 162 game season. The more series wins you can pile up the better the position you'll be in for a playoff run.

I'd like the Mets to win every game, but I realize that's not going to happen. Sure the Mets lost, but they showed the ability to recover after a poor pitching performance by Takahashi and that they can get hits with 2 outs to try and mount a rally.

The Tigers are decent, but the Twins are good as they come rolling into town tonight. If the Mets can get yet another series win against an American League opponent, they will have one of the best records for interleague play in all of baseball.

Bring on Mauer, Morneau and any other Minnesota/Canadian grown talent they can throw at us. Let's go Mets!

I Love Interleague Play

If the Mets can play the Indians and Orioles every year, I will be a big proponent of interleague play. It's when the Mets get stuck playing the Rays, the Angels and the Twins that it's not so fun.

The host cities of Cleveland and Baltimore have been more than accommodating to the Mets over the last week that I've actually started to consider the DH as being a viable option. Ok, I won't go that far.

Of course this trip to the bottom dwellers of the American League will end tonight and the Mets will return back to NYC to play the Yanks. But what this road trip has done is instill some confidence in this Mets lineup, remove the "can't win on the road" monkey from their backs and allowed them to make a run up the standings in the NL East.

Can the Mets return to New York as the lone New York team in first place? It's possible, but even if that isn't the case the Mets will return home to a rejuvenated fan base who's excited about winning baseball being back in Queens.

Where are the Kansas City Royals when you need them?

Another game against the Yankees tonight. The Twin and A's come into town next week. It's like the 2006 playoffs at Shea Stadium this week.

When are the Mets going to get a break in their interleague schedule? I can't remember the last time we got to play the Royals at Shea. Oh that's right, because we never have! Or the Devil Rays. Or the Orioles. Or any team that absolutely stinks.

Now I'm not anti-interleague play. I do think we play too many interleague games, but I'm one of those people that likes the chance to beat the Yankees a couple of games every year. But with this many playoff teams playing the Mets, we need to incorporate an NCAA Football strength of schedule statistic to even things out.

That's still no excuse for the way we've been playing. Delgado looks like a cross between Cliff Floyd & Mo Vaughn. Beltran has lost any fire in his belly. Willie Randolph has changed the lineup card so many times you think he was managing the Yankees starting rotation.

But we need to catch a break somewhere. Let's hope tonight's the night.